Steelers sign Isaiah Lewis to future contract; Spent training camp with Bengals

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed safety Isaiah Lewis to a future contract after he spent this past training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Lewis, 5-foot-10, 208 pounds, started three years at strong safety and was the Spartans' nickleback as a freshman. Lewis was a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a senior, and he finished his career at State with eight interceptions.

His senior year was hampered by an arthroscopic knee surgery operation he underwent after Week 2. Lewis came back, but was never at 100% and didn't look like the safety many projected as a Day 2 or 3 draft pick. He ended up going undrafted before landing in Cincinnati, where his strong camp wasn't enough to earn him a spot on the final roster.

It's unclear if the Bengals tried to sign him to a future contract, but either way, Lewis made a good decision signing with the Steelers. With Troy Polamalu potentially being let go and/or retiring, Pittsburgh may not have any capable safeties other than Mike Mitchell. The Bengals have George Iloka and Reggie Nelson with Shawn Williams waiting in the wings.

Needless to say, Lewis could earn a roster spot in Pittsburgh, whereas he was going to be lucky to make the practice squad in Cincinnati.